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FINKE 2009 - LUKE BEECHEY TAKES OUT FINKE 20098/Jun/2009 - By, Randall KilnerQueensland's Luke Beechey has stormed home in the 2009 Tattersall's Finke Desert Race to claim victory in the Quad division and finish in 70th position outright.Beechey started the return run from Finke back to Alice Springs in third position on his Polaris Outlaw 525, after putting in a 2hr 48min 4.20 second run down to Finke on Sunday. This had placed him behind the race leading KTM of #903 Chris Brenton who posted a 2hr 37min 25.9 second run down, and just a second behind #993 Aaron Ovens on the Polaris Outlaw 450.On the return run both Brenton and Ovens fell to the wayside leaving Beechey to greet the chequered flag in an overall time of 5:33:09.20. "I had a nice clean run back to Alice Springs and didn't get too much dust. Everything went well and the bike was good and the run felt fast and clean." said Beechey. "I knew I was in second after the first fuel stop and when I came into the second fuel stop I was told no other quads had been through, so I figured I was in the lead. So I just tried to finish the race nice and clean." Paul Smith's love affair with Finke continued securing second place in the quad division after a solid run home on his Can-Am DS450X. Locking in an overall time of 5hr 48min 27.30 seconds. Smith started the race in fourth position after Saturdays prologue and got out of Alice well. "I got to the first fuel stop and was told I was only a minute behind Brenton, so I thought I'm going to have a go. I pushed real hard to try and catch him but knocked myself around in the Rodinga Rock Gardens and Aaron Ovens got past me, so I decided to back off to ensure I made it to Finke and see what happened from there." said Smith Catching up with Smith in Parc Ferme after the race he was surprised to have picked up a podium finish. "I had no idea I was in second. I thought I was in fourth and didn't know Chris and Aaron were out and really rode my own race home." "I'm in a bit of shock actually… they (Brenton & Ovens) spoked me and I'm in two minds whether to be happy or a bit sad for them." "I had a good run all the way up and all the way back. The Can-Am ran like clockwork and the fuel stops were good. I'm stoked I finished second." Rounding out the podium positions in third place was NSW's Michael Roycroft riding a Can-Am DS450X M. Roycroft pushed his way from 6th at the close of play on Sunday to 3rd on his way back from Finke. Finishng in a time of 5:51:50.50. "It was my first Finke, so I didn't know what to expect. The run down yesterday was a bit daunting, but I felt good when I got into Finke. But it hurt today on the way home… the last 80km was tough. Today the race really lived up to its reputation." said Roycroft. After leading the race down to Finke Brenton struck trouble on the return leg and failed to finish the race due to technical problems. Despite running strongly early on Aaron Ovens limped across the finish line way down the field after also striking trouble on the return leg. 2009 TATTERSALL'S FINKE DESERT RACE 1. Luke Beechey / Polaris / 5:33:09.20 2. Paul Smith / Can-Am / 5:48:27.30 3. Mick Roycroft / Can-Am / 5:51:50.50 4. Brett Clissold / 5:53:46.10 5. Cam Wade / 5:54:56.40 6. Ben Hall / 5:56:52.80 7. Colin Lawson / 5:57:31.10 8. Andreas Anderson / 5:59:09.20 9. Eddie Tattingham / 6:07:11.10 10. Alfio Pappalardo / 6:08:28.30 11. John Grupillo / 6:14:05.90 12. James Creber / 6:16:16.10 13. Chris Howard / 6:17:27.20 14. Victor Bonacci / 6:26:31.30 15. Londt Van Der Merwe / 6:26:44.10 Images from Prologue - Gallery A All club representatives across Australia are invited to send their race schedules here for inclusion on a national 2009 calendar that will feature here on ATVPOD.com.au. Of course we also need to know your race schedules if we are to try and fund any coverage of your events. Racing News |
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